Fulya Pinar
Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology
- Office
- Munroe Hall 103
- fpinar@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- Spring 2025: Tuesday and Thursday, 3pm-4:30pm; Wednesday, 2pm-3pm
Courses Taught
ANTH 0229
Current
Anthro of the Middle East
Course Description
Anthropologies of the Middle East: Representations, Politics, Cultures
In this course we will explore the Middle East, past and present, from an anthropological viewpoint. We will start by looking at how
past foreign influences and biased views have shaped how we see the region today and continue with nuanced
anthropological works on the diverse peoples and struggles in different parts of the region. Topics will include family,
religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, the environment, state power, and political resistance. Using visual materials
and ethnographic readings, we will challenge common stereotypes, offering a more complex view of the Middle
East. Readings will highlight stories that are often ignored, showing the people of the region as active participants in
creating knowledge and engaging in political struggles, rather than just static victims or perpetrators, as they are often
portrayed, especially after 9/11.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0242
Upcoming
Law and Politics
Course Description
Law and Politics
In this course we will explore how societies construct, negotiate, and contest political systems and legal frameworks in diverse contexts from an anthropological perspective. We will begin by examining anthropological perspectives on politics and laws across various social structures. We will then discuss dissent, protests, and social movements (e.g., Occupy, Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter). We will inquire into what defines the realms of the political and legal, probing how certain aspects of social life have been structured in explicitly apolitical and non-legal terms. Assigned materials are theoretical and ethnographic readings, supplemented by interdisciplinary and primary sources. The class format includes lectures, media, and group discussion. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of governance, power dynamics, legal norms, and social movements through this course.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0274
Migration and Social Justice
Course Description
Migration and Social Justice: Power, Place, and Human Experiences.
This course examines migration through bottom-up approaches, drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from political and legal anthropology, feminist and decolonial studies, and social scientific and historical methodologies. It critically explores how gender, race, ethnicity, social class, and global disparities shape migratory experiences and influence notions of justice, agency, and belonging. Key topics include migration governance, borders, economic aspects of migration, climate displacement, refugee camps, and everyday lives, agencies, and solidarity practices of migrants; themes explored across South-to-North and South-to-South migration to illuminate the global and interconnected dimensions of migration experiences and governance. Through diverse materials – ethnographic texts and documentaries, primary legal sources, art and activist projects, and podcasts – students will analyze the lived experiences of migrants alongside the structural realities that shape migrants’ lives.3 hrs. lect./disc.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0302
Upcoming
Ethnographic Research
Course Description
The Research Process: Ethnography and Qualitative Methods
The aim of this course is to prepare the student to conduct research, to analyze and present research in a scholarly manner, and to evaluate critically the research of others. Practice and evaluation of such basic techniques as observation, participant-observation, structured and open-ended interviews, and use of documents. Introduction to various methodological and theoretical frameworks. Thesis or essay prospectus is the final product of this course. Strongly recommended for juniors. One-hour research lab required. (Any 100 level ANTH or SOCI course, or by permission) 3 hrs. lect./disc./1 hr. research lab
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0411
Current
The Enterprising Self
Course Description
The Enterprising Self: Entrepreneurial Cultures, Modern Subjects
In this course we will look at how ideas about self-improvement and being entrepreneurial shape who we are today as humans. We will explore how concepts like self-care and self-empowerment, often seen through a business-like lens, shape our mental and social lives. Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram push us to market ourselves, turning everyday actions into forms of entrepreneurship. Through real-life examples, ethnographic studies, and visual materials, we will examine how socio-economic life and personal choices influence each other. We will take a critical look at how global capitalism shapes our sense of self, showing the ongoing negotiation between personal identity and economic pressures.
Terms Taught
Requirements
ANTH 0500
Current
Upcoming
Advanced Individual Study
Course Description
Prior to registering for ANTH 0500, a student must enlist the support of a faculty advisor from the Department of Anthropology. (Open to Majors only) (Approval Required)
Terms Taught
ANTH 0700
Current
Upcoming
One-Semester Senior Project
Course Description
One-Semester Senior Project
Under the guidance of a faculty member, a student will carry out an independent, one-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 25-40 pages, due the last day of classes.
Terms Taught
ANTH 0710
Current
Upcoming
Multi-Semester Senior Project
Course Description
Multi-Semester Senior Project
Under the guidance of a faculty member, a senior will carry out an independent multi-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 60-100 pages, due either at the end of the Winter Term or the Friday after spring break.
Terms Taught